HERBS AND ACNE – BENEFITS YOU DIDN'T KNOW

Acne is without a doubt a skin condition that cause many adolescents and adults sleepless nights. Acne (Acne Vulgaris) is the most prevalent skin disease, and it is characterized by the clogging of the hair follicles. This mostly occurs when there is over production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Sebum is an oily substance that nourishes and moisturizes the skin to give it that golden, radiant look. It can however, be a double-edged sword, if it is over produced and becomes piled up with dead skin it can lead to acne breakout. Androgen hormones especially testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (a metabolite of testosterone) are responsible for the overproduction of sebum thereby altering the skin's natural processes.

Acne manifests itself through Whitehead (small, round and white acne bumps), blackhead (a specific kind of dark acne lesion), papules (many small red bumps), pus filled spots known as pustules, and nodules (larger deeper lesions) (1). This skin condition mostly affects the upper parts of the torso, the back, and face. With its effects being feared by many (if not all), it is not surprising that the beauty industry is a multi-billion company as many people flock in to get help on ways to eradicate this disturbing condition. Sadly, many are left disappointed because a variety of the treatment available in the market only make the situation worse. Don’t worry, all is not lost, because there exist botanicals that have a proven track record of dealing with acne.

Botanicals are the latest buzzwords in the skin care industry. A botanical is a plant or part of a plant valued for its therapeutic properties or medicinal value, its scent, or flavor. The products used to improve health or maintain health can either be termed as phytomedicines, botanical products or herbal products (herbs are a subset of botanicals). So, how do botanicals help with acne? Since we already know that acne is primarily caused by hormonal imbalance in the body, the botanicals will either restore the hormonal balance or kill the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria (or both) (2).

Botanicals, mostly referred to as herbal medicines have antibacterial properties and anti-inflammatory properties that fight off the bacteria and bring about a cleansing effect on the skin. Some of the botanicals that you can use to treat acne include:

•Green Tea Extract; This product can do wonders for your skin. It helps with acne in that it inhibits the activity of the skin's oil-producing cells thus reduction of sebum (3). Green tea can also reduce the inflammation levels, calm breakouts and oil production which makes it a popular choice when dealing with acne.

•Willow Bark Extract; willow bark comes from a natural botanical source and is an excellent remedy for acne. It sloughs off the dead skin cells that clog off the pores which pave the way for a clearer skin that acne or the p.Acne bacteria cannot thrive on (4).

•Aloe Vera; this plant has long been known to treat sunburns. Also, it has the capability to fight inflammation and bring about a soothing effect on the skin due to its compounds aloesin and aloin which have been termed as great moisturizers and cleansers(5). It also helps eradicate the dark spots that acne brings thereby restoring the beautiful, spotless skin you once had. On top of that, Aloe Vera contains more than six antiseptic agents that offer a broad antimicrobial cover protection for the skin. The herb will therefore kill off the fungi and the bacteria which worsen or cause acne symptoms.

•Tea Tree Oil; this fragrant essential oil comes from the tea tree has been termed as one of the most effective acne treatment, an assertion backed by lab tests. It does this by killing off the acne causing bacteria thereby preventing the development of acne which would have led to papules, pustules, and nodules. These are just some of the amazing botanicals out there in the market that will never disappoint you.

Is there proof that ingestible work on acne?

Ingestible refers to those products that are taken in and absorbed as food. In ingestible skin care, you have to either drink or eat the product to enjoy the benefits. There has been a gradual shift in the skin care platform whereby it is no longer just about skincare from the outside but rather from the inside (6). The majority of acne fighting products are applied on the outside; however, the new emerging trend of indigestible to tackle acne has taken the world by a storm. Conventional beauty solutions are being replaced by ingestible skin care that offers immense nutritional skin benefits. You might be pondering, is all this true? Or is it just a marketing hype?

American Academy of Dermatology recently presented a study that confirms that indeed indigestible work on acne. For instance, they asserted that drinking two cups of organic spearmint tea a day has the capability of reducing acne lesions by 51% after three months and by 25% after one month. Dr. Carl Thornfeldt, a dermatologist in Fruitland, Idaho notes that since abnormal sebaceous gland functioning is what brings about acne, the active ingredients in spearmint tea such as flavonoids (anti-inflammatory) will neutralize them thereby inhibiting acne.

True, the idea of skin care that you consume might surprise some of you, but many of the ingestible have indeed been proven to come with a range array ok skin benefits such as tackling acne. Come to think of it, whenusing ingestible, you are meritoriously feeding your skin from within, and if you think more about it, it makes perfect sense. This is because conditions like acne start from within when there is hormonal imbalance, ingestible work on that to ensure that from the ins9de restoring balance.

Acne should not cause you sleepless nights and affect your social life. If you are suffering from the same, it is about time you shift your focus to botanicals and ingestible. These two have been proven to deal with acne in ways that many topical products (serums, creams, and lotions) will never do. And as many contemporary dermatologists are contending, the best way to treat the skin is from the inside out using everyday nutrients.